HIGH SCHOOL GOLF: Henry Chung takes third at regional

LONG BEACH - With his putter in fine working order, Cerritos High's Henry Chung appears ready to make a long postseason run.

The junior sank five birdies at Monday's CIF Southern Section individual regional at Skylinks Golf Course en route to a 3-under-par 69, good enough for a third-place finish and a berth in next week's individual finals at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc. Chung had no three-putts on Skylinks' large, undulating greens and was perfect on putts of five feet or shorter.

Chung rolled in his first putt of the day for a birdie. He finished the front side at 1-under, then ran off seven consecutive pars on the back. Needing back-to-back birdies on the last two holes to break 70, Chung did exactly that, including a terrific 9-iron from 154 yards on the 18th hole.

"It was pretty steady," Chung said of his round. "I made a birdie at the first, and it was pretty smooth from there.

"My goal was to advance (to the individual finals), and if I could, post a low number," the Suburban League individual champion continued. "I'm very pleased with my round today."

Tesoro sophomore Gordon Neale shot 5-under 67 to win low-medalist honors and Kyle De Silva of Villa Park was second at 68. Chung and Sammy Kim of Northwood each shot 69, but Chung's better score over the final six holes (21-22) broke a tie and earned him the third-place medal.

The top 30 players, with scores of 74 or better, advanced.

Wilson junior Austin Orkin and freshman Hunter Epson also moved on. Orkin shot 73 and turned his day around with an eagle-birdie stretch on the second and third holes. On No. 2, Orkin hit a 3-wood from 280 yards to within inches of the cup, then tapped in for eagle. On No. 3, he canned a birdie putt from about 45 feet. Orkin credited his improved play late in the season to better putting.

"I missed (advancing) the last two years," Orkin explained, "so it feels good this year. I kind of struggled in the season, and I've sort of fixed my game. The putts are starting to fall."

Epson drove the ball well and shot 71. He made par on the first three holes and birdied the par-3 fifth.

Wilson had a contingent of six players in the field of more than 100, including Moore League champion Harold Calubid, who shot 77.

"We wanted to see as many as possible advance," Wilson coach Jeff Evans said. "It was nice to see a couple guys step up against a great field."

Gahr senior Isaiah Soto, the San Gabriel Valley League champion, and Los Alamitos junior Jonathan Young also advanced. Both shot 74.